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Washington attorney general sues student loan processor

Chad Sokol Murrow News Service

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing a California company for charging Washington customers “exorbitant and illegal” fees to adjust their student loan debt.

Ferguson filed a lawsuit Monday charging Student Loan Processing.US and its owner, James Krause, with violating state laws designed to protect student loan borrowers. The lawsuit claims SLP illegally charged state residents $123,000 to help consolidate their federal student loans.

SLP officials did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday. On its website, the company says it offers to help customers fill out and submit paperwork to the U.S. Department of Education, which offers the same services at no charge.

Attorney general’s office spokeswoman Alison Dempsey-Hall said a consumer complaint about the company was filed with the office. The lawsuit references claims within SLP’s mailing system that the company works directly with the Department of Education. It does not.

Ferguson’s office claims SLP charged consumers an up-front fee of $250, or 1 percent of their outstanding loan balance, whichever was greater. Some paid up to $2,000, although state law caps initial fees at $25.

SLP also charged a $39 monthly fee for all customers, although state law caps monthly fees at 15 percent of a borrower’s monthly loan payment. The 88 Washington residents owed an average of $58,000 in student loans, the statement says.

Ferguson wants SLP to void all of its contracts with Washington customers, pay back all of their fees, pay the state $2,000 for each legal violation, and cover attorneys’ costs and fees.

Dempsey-Hall said SLP has been notified of the lawsuit and has 60 days to respond.

Many student loan adjustment companies have sprung up in recent years as the nation’s student debt skyrocketed to $1.2 trillion. Roughly 40 million Americans now have at least one outstanding student loan.

SLP, an unofficial business name for Irvine Web Works Inc., also is being sued by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The bureau and the attorney general’s office discourage consumers from paying up-front for loan adjustment services.